Automatic switch for electric-arc lamps



(Nd Model.)

' E. R. KNOWLES.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH FUR ELECTRIC ARC LAMPS. No. 397,729.. Patented Feb. 12, 1889.

E C M g lllllllllh WITNESSES. INVE/VY'O/w.

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By( Attorney. V

N. PETKRSY Pholo-Lxlhngmphcr. Washlnglnn. lXC

UNITED STATES EDXVARD R. KNOlVLES, OF BROOKLYN, NEW

PATENT OFFICE-t YORK, ASSIGXOR TO THE MUTUAL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF XEKY YORK.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR ELECTRlC ARC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,729, dated February 1.2, 1889.

Application filed September 24, 1885. Renewed December To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EDWARD R. KNOWLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and Improved Automatic Switch for Electric-Arc I Lamps, of which the following is a full, clear, I and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved dcvice for use in multiple-carbon electric-arc lamps for the purpose otautomatically switching the current from one pair of carbons when consumed to the next, so that a lamp can be kept burning for a V0 long period of time.

My invention consi in an automatic switch for transferringthe current, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- A ll denote two carbon-holders in an electrio-arc lamp, with carbons c 0 attached. (I (1 denote the lower carbons. The carbon-holder I A carries an. insulated stud, a, at its upper end, which projects over the end of a latch, C, pressed upward against a stoppiem' c, by i a sprincyfl l) is a second latch or switch locking; into i the first and pressed downward by the same sprin f If the end of the latch is carriml down as by the stud a pressing upon it-its tooth in I will be released from the tooth m of thelatch D. \Vhen this takes place, by the action of the spring f the latch D will he carried downward to the limit of its stroke, determined by a projection, y, upon the boss or stud F. immediately above the stud F is another stud, E. -\Vhe11tl1e latch D otcupies its highest i position, it covers the stud E, and. is hcld I firmly against it by the spring" g, which bears in a direction perpemlicular to thc plane of ltllOll of the springji The line on denotes one of the main wires l through which the current passes. This wire I communicates with the latch D. From the stud E a wire, 7, passes to the carbon-holder A. From the stud l? a wire, 7, passes to the carlmn-holdcr P.

Proper regulatingmachinery-such as used l fore, by the switch 5 stud 1 and wire 21,1888. Serial No. 294,283. N0 model.)

in are lamps-wan be placed somewhere on the lines of wire. From (I and (1 wires n and a run into the line.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: lVhen the lamp is started with new carbons, the carbon-holders are pressed up to their highest limit and the stud u is al'iove and out of contact with the latch flefore turning" on the current the switch l) is pushed up by any suitable means-as by the pin 11 or a stud, Q, on the carbon-holder ll; orit may be set autmnatically, when the rod B is pushed up until it locks its tooth .r into the tooth .r of the latch t, and is pressed by the springg against the stud E. Then when the current is turned on it enters by the wire m, passes through the switch 1), st ud E, wire Z, regulating mechanism of the lamp, to the carbonholder A, and out by the wire a to the line. As the carbon c is consumed under the action of the voltaic arc, the stud o, descending, comes in contact with the latch t", presses it down, and releases the detent at .r ."u. \Yhen this takes place, the switch ,1) moves down under the action of i he springf until it st rikcs the stop 2 and remains pressed against the stud t by the s n'ing'g. This switches the current from A to B, so that, entering, as be- I), it passes, by way ol' the and regulating mechanism of the lamp, to the other carbon-lmldcr, l3, starting a new arc betwe n c and d. Thus by the use of one of my automatic switches two pairs of carbons maybe made to succeed each other in the formation of a vollaic arc. By using more switches more pairs of carbons can be brought successively into action, so that. a lone pcriod ol' burning may thus be sccured.

The latch by proper insulation must be kept from forming an electrical contact with the carlaolrhohlcr A, with the ground, or with the lineavirc.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a multiple-carlnm arc lamp, a lever, (f, its tooth .ir, and a stop, c, for limiting the upward movement of said lever, the lever 1), having" a tooth, II", to engage the tooth of the other lever, the connecting and operating we spring f, common to both levers, the contacts E and F, and the spring g,to11o1d the ieverD in electrical Contact therewith, combined with i ED \VARD R. KNOXVLES. 5 the carbon-holder A, provided with means to operate the iever (i, all arranged in electric Witnesses: circuit and adapted to operate substantially E. GRENiNG,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of Jniy, A. D. 1885.

as shown and described. ARTHUR C. \VEBB. 

